Database Structure

Music database:

• music_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a new song is added to the database a new ID is assigned to that track
• music_url : a URL to the music file will be input into the database so when played it can be directed to the correct address
• genre : so that the mixtape maker can recommend music dependant on the users type of mixtape a genre must be given to the song file to define it
• artist : title of the artist
• title : title of the song

Playlist Database:

• playlist_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a user makes a playlist it is assigned an individual ID
• user_ID : pulled from the user database so that the playlist is assigned to the correct user
• playlist : a list of arrays which store which songs were selected for the playlist
• design : a list of arrays which store the design elements used for the design of the tape
• tape_colour : a variable is stored in this field dependant on what colour cassette tape was chosen
• tape_name : the name the user added to the mixtape

User Database : For login/register

• user_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a user registers with the site an individual ID is assigned to them
• username : Records the users choice of username
• email : Records the users email
• password : Records the users password

Redefining the stages

To organise the structure of the website in my head, I am using psuedo code to determine how each of the stages will work.

Stage one : Define the mixtape

• User enters mixtape_name
• When next button is pressed
• mixtape_name to be saved to an array

• User chooses mixtape_style
• When next button is pressed
• mixtape_style to be recorded for further stage

Stage Two : Create a playlist

• Depending on mixtape_style show relevant song recommendations
• Search Facility to search through database of songs
• Ability to play individual songs
• Songs to be able to drag and drop to chosen tracks box
• Chosen tracks need to be recorded into an array
• login/register prompt when user clicks save
• If user already logged in go to profile
• After login/register playlist info needs to be recorded and pulled back in

Stage Three : Choose mixtape colour

• Choice of coloured mixtape to be saved to an array

Stage Four : Design Inlay

• Draggable elements onto cassette tape inlay
• Colour Picker
• Final design to be recorded to be remembered later

Stage Five : Verify Design

• Pull in image of final design
• Tracklisting pulled in and added to inlay

Stage Six : Profile Page

• Pull in saved mixtapes (stages 2&6)
• Ability to delete mixtape from the database
• Edit button needs to work out what stage the user is at

Finalised Mock up Design

After much deliberation over the design of the website, I have finally decided on a design:

Homepage Design

Stage one

Stage Two

Stage Three

Stage Four

Stage Five

MP3 Gift Vouchers

Itunes

Currently there are online wholsalers who distribute itunes gift cards, however they do not seem to have any connection with apple themselves, nor do apple condone it.

http://www.tradetang.com/wholesale-iTunes-Gift-Cards_c262011.html

Amazon

Amazon currently offer corporate gift vouchers which are for large businesses who are wishing to purchase vast amounts of gift vouchers for their employees.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=gc_gc_corp2/?ie=UTF8&node=236462011

Summary

As gift cards are classed as an item, I can imagine the first sale doctrine and the sale of goods act would apply. So purchasing a gift card for commercial use would not be feesible. However, having permission from either brand, or smaller music distributers would be an option.

Join our club

Since I have already produced a sign up form for the website I have decided I will try and incorporate it into a mailing list or a 'mixtape club'.

Mixtape Club Newsletter

- updates on new mixtape themes
- fan photos
- mixtape stories

Actionscript & PHP

Using a tutorial within the book 'Flash and PHP bible' by Mathew Keefe I managed to get flash to talk to PHP.

This will be useful for when creating the mixtape sleeve designer as I am coding the site in PHP, the designer will be in actionscript. I will need some way for actionscript to talk to PHP and my mySQL database to transfer these details.

In the tutorial I used the classes URLRequest, URLVariables and URLLoader to talk to a PHP file I wrote which included some variables with values within them.

URLRequest = captures all the information in a single HTTP request
URLVariables = allows you to send variables from an application to the server
URLLoader = downloads data from the URL as text

The file can be viewed here:

http://www.sezzah.co.uk/FMP/phpflash01/connecttophp.html

PHP Sign up/Login

I had originally wanted to include a members area where users could store their mixtapes they had made. I coded up a sign up form and login script for this.

There was no design and it was still in its early stages. It still would have benfitted from:

1. Adding a $_SESSION variable for the username
2. Error messages to display for individual fields which are missed within the sign up/login stages
3. A second "reconfirm" password for sign up
4. To include MD5 encryption
5. To include cookies for when a user close the browser and the session closes

The files can be found here:

http://www.sezzah.co.uk/FMP/new/